Dielectric substrate bearing nickel boride conductor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are powder compositions useful for making conductors, e.g., microcircuit conductors, end terminations for capacitors, electrodes for gas discharge display devices, etc. The compositions comprise inorganic powders dispersed in an inert vehicle and are printed and fired in the conventional manner on dielectric substrates. The inorganic powders comprise certain nickel compounds (borides or boride-silicides). Glass powder, nickel metal powder, and/or nickel silicide may also be present.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 523,473, filed Nov. 13, 1974 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,168.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to electronics, and more particularly to compositions useful for producing conductor patterns adherent to substrates.

Conductor compositions which are applied to and fired on dielectric substrates (glass, glass-ceramic, and ceramic) usually comprise finely divided inorganic powders (e.g., metal particles and binder particles) and are commonly applied to substrates using so-called "thick film" techniques, as a dispersion of these inorganic powders in an inert liquid medium or vehicle. Upon firing or sintering of the printed film, the metallic component of the composition provides the functional (conductive) utility, while the inorganic binder (e.g., glass, Bi₂ O₃, etc.) bonds the metal particles to one another and to the substrate. Thick film techniques are contrasted with thin film techniques which involve deposition of particles by evaporation or sputtering. Thick film techniques are generally discussed in "Handbook of Materials and Processes for Electronics," C. A. Harper, Editor, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1970, Chapter 12.

The most commonly used conductor compositions employ noble metals, especially gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and their mixtures, alloys, and compounds, since their relatively inert characteristics permit firing in air. Attempts at using dispersions of less expensive non-noble metals have often been confined to specialized uses or have required the great practical inconvenience and expense of firing in non-oxidizing atmospheres (nitrogen, nitrogen/hydrogen, hydrogen, argon, etc.).

There is a distinct commercial need for less expensive conductor compositions which can be fired in air to produce adherent low resistivity conductors on dielectric substrates, including microcircuit patterns, end terminations for resistors, etc.

Present commerical practice in the manufacture of gas discharge display devices is to fire nickel powders in a reducing or inert (non-oxidizing) atmosphere at high temperatures (e.g., above 900° C.) on relatively expensive forsterite (2MgO.SiO₂) substrates. Nickel is used due to its low tendency to sputter under glow discharge. The use of inexpensive, mass-produced, high quality glass substrates such as soda lime glass substrates would be desirable. However, the use of soda lime glass substrates limits the firing temperature of conductors thereon to no more than 600° C., due to the low softening point of the glass. At these low temperatures it is very difficult to obtain good metallic sintering of nickel; consequently, adherent low resistivity nickel conductors are difficult to make.

There is consequently the need for a nickel-based conductor which can be fired below 600° C. in making gas discharge display devices on soda lime glass substrates. It is further desirable that the compositions be fireable in air, rather than in more expensive atmospheres (inert or reducing atmospheres).

Huang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,801, issued Mar. 31, 1970, discloses the use of metal borides and glass in the manufacture of resistors. The borides include those of chromium, zirconium, molybdenum, tantalum, and titanium. Neither conductors nor nickel borides are suggested. Numerous patents disclose the deposition of coatings of nickel and boron (not nickel boride) on substrates from a plating bath of materials such as amine boranes (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,045,334, issued July 24, 1962, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,726, issued Aug, 29, 1967, each to Berzins), and three patents to Bellis, U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,964, issued June 27, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,447, issued July 4, 1972, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,849, issued June 12, 1973. These patents do not relate to dispersions of borides which may be printed (and fired) on substrates, but rather to plating Ni/B coatings on the entire surface exposed to such a bath.

Metal borides and silicides have been reported to be inert to oxidation at room temperature. At elevated temperature, borides are oxidized, although rates of oxidation vary, Greenwood et al., Quarterly Reviews (London) 20, page 441, 1966. German Patent Publication OS No. 2,222,695, published Nov. 22, 1973, discloses base metal resistor compositions of boron, molybdenum, or tungsten silicides plus molybdenum or tungsten glasses. Howell U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,518, issued Feb, 26, 1974, discloses resistors also, of glass plus certain copper nickel alloys, which were fired in an inert atmosphere (column 3, line 74) to resistors which fuse (open) when subjected to overload.

Representative of art on gas discharge display devices are the following patents, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. McCauley U.S. Pat. No. 2,991,387 (issued July 4, 1961) discloses tube-type display devices. Bentley U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,648 (issued Apr. 19, 1960) discloses flat display devices employing a multiplicity of display cavities. Ogle U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,975 (issued Jan. 26, 1971) discloses glass display devices using electrodes of gold or the like. Milgram U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,722 (issued Jan. 29, 1974) discloses process for manufacturing flat display devices from ceramic tape and precious metal pastes; FIG. 4 is a top view of a line bar gas display device. Recent non-tube display devices include the Burroughs Panaplex II^(TM) panel display, described in Burroughs Bulletin No. 1179A dated March, 1974; these are a family of common envelope, multidigit display devices. Nickel-based electrodes fireable in air would be especially useful for the displays of types represented by the above patents and bulletin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides nickel-based compositions used for producing conductor patterns on dielectric substrates. The compositions may, but need not be, fired in air. Moreover, they may be fired even at temperatures compatible with the use of inexpensive soda lime glass substrates. The compositions nonetheless can produce conductor patterns having useful resistivities and adhesion.

The compositions of this invention are finely divided inorganic powders dispersed in a liquid vehicle. The inorganic powder comprises one or more compounds of nickel, wherein the compounds of nickel have the overall approximate composition

    (Ni.sub.3 B).sub.a (Ni.sub.3 Si).sub.b,

wherein the sum of a plus b equals one, a is in the range 1/3 to 1, and b is in the range 0 to 2/3, of course on a molar basis. By this compositional formula it is not implied that only chemical compounds are involved, as discussed more fully below. The compositional formula is meant to indicate an Ni₃ B/Ni₃ Si ratio where such borides and silicides are present in any of the chemical forms discussed herein. In these compositions the nickel compounds are one or more of Ni₃ B; solid solutions of the formula

    Ni.sub.3 B.sub.1.sub.-x Si.sub.x,

wherein x is in the approximate range up to 0.1; mixtures of either Ni₃ B or Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) solid solutions with Ni₃ Si; or mixtures of Ni₃ B and Ni₃ Si. In any such nickel compound or combination of nickel compounds, the total amount of B and Si is such that the atomic ratio B/Si is no less than 1/2, that is, there are up to but no more than 2 Si atoms per B atom in the nickel compounds. Restated, the amount of Si present in the total of such nickel compounds present is no more than two times the amount of B present, on an atomic basis. Amounts of silicon in excess of that level tend to increase resistivity to unacceptable levels.

The compositions of the present invention, in addition to such nickel compounds, normally comprise conventional inorganic binder, such as glass, Bi₂ O₃, etc., well known to those skilled in the art. On an inorganic solids basis, the amount of such nickel compounds in these compositions is 30-100%, preferably 50-98%, more preferably 70-96%.

These compositions may additionally comprise nickel metal powder. The amount of nickel powder is somewhat dependent upon the firing temperature used, but is up to 80% of the total weight of the nickel and nickel compounds present. At lower firing temperatures the amount of nickel metal powder present can conveniently be at the upper end of this range (near 80% of total nickel metal and nickel compounds). Where unencapsulated conductors are to be exposed to high humidity for long periods, preferred compositions of the invention comprise mixtures of Ni₃ B and Ni metal.

The present invention also is the composition of the present invention fired (sintered) on and adherent to a dielectric substrate, such as glass, glass-ceramic, and ceramic substrates. The present invention also involves improved gas discharge display devices. Such devices comprise two dielectric substrates having conductor patterns printed on one or both thereof in operative fashion. The substrates are assembled such that a dielectric spacer separates them and defines a cavity or gap between the substrates. The device is, of course, provided with means for holding the two substrates and separator together, e.g., clamps, adhesive, etc, The cavity is filled with an ionizable light-producing gas of the type well known to those skilled in the art (including argon, neon, or the like, separately or in mixtures). In the use of such devices an electric current is applied as desired to various electrode segments, causing ionization and production of light. The improvement in the devices of the present invention lies in the use of electrodes of the sintered or fired compositions of the present invention, that is, the electrodes are produced by printing on the substrate a dispersion of one or more nickel compounds having an overall approximate composition of

    (Ni.sub.3 B).sub.a (Ni.sub.3 Si).sub.b

wherein the sum of a plus b is one, a is in the range 1/3 to 1, and b is in the range 0 to 2/3. As indicated above, various other inorganic powders are optional in those compositions. A preferred substrate is glass, especially soda lime glass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing illustrates a conventional gas discharge display device having dielectric substrates 1 separated by dielectric spacers 3, the substrates bearing conductor patterns 2 of the composition of this invention; 4 is a voltage supply. The entire device is appropriately enclosed and in the cavity defined by the dielectric spacers 3 there is an ionizable light-producing gas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The essential components of the compositions of the present invention are the nickel compounds described above, which include Ni₃ B as their simplest member. During firing of these nickel compounds in air, at least some of the nickel becomes nickel metal, encapuslated by B₂ O₃ ; where silicon is present in the nickel compounds as a solid solution Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x), where x is up to 0.1, such nickel metal will be encapsulated by B₂ O₃ /SiO₂. Such systems initially fired in air can, therefore, be refired in air without substantial oxidation and consequent degradation of electrical properties (e.g., increased resistivity). This ability to withstand refiring is quite useful in the assembly of a gas discharge display device since multiple firing steps may be involved (e.g., nickel conductor, dielectric insulating layer, nickel cathode, and contrasting dielectric).

The compositions of the present invention will normally be fired at temperatures in the range 550°-1025° C., preferably 570°-950° C.; although air firing is most convenient, they may also be fired in inert or reducing atmospheres. Normally the time of firing is at least 2 minutes, preferably about 10 minutes, at peak temperature.

Where gas discharge display devices are made on soda lime glass substrates, firing temperatures in the 550°-600° C. range will be used, preferably 550°-570° C.

The Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) solid solutions of the present invention, and mixtures thereof with Ni₃ Si, can be made by heating the elements or Ni₃ B and Ni₃ Si in the desired proportions to form a liquid, and then solidifying the mass. It is preferred that heating be carried out by induction or arc melting techniques in vacuum or inert atmospheres, followed by annealing in vacuum at about 950° C.

Any conventional electronic glass powder may be used as the inorganic binder in the compositions of the present invention, as known to those skilled in the art, including, for example, those of Larson and Short U.S. Pat. No. 2,822,279 (issued Feb. 4, 1958); Short U.S. Pat. No. 2,819,170 (issued Jan. 7, 1958); etc.

All the inorganic powders used herein are finely divided, i.e., pass through a 400-mesh screen. It is preferred that substantially all the particles have a largest dimension ("diameter") of 5 microns or less.

The inorganic particles are mixed with an inert liquid vehicle by mechanical mixing (e.g., on a roll mill) to form a paste-like composition. The latter is printed as "thick film" on conventional dielectric substrates in the conventional manner. Any inert liquid may be used as the vehicle. Water or any one of various organic liquids, with or without thickening and/or stabilizing agents and/or other common additives, may be used as the vehicle. Exemplary of the organic liquids which can be used are the aliphatic alcohols; esters of such alcohols, for example, the acetates and propionates; terpenes such as pine oil, terpineol and the like; solutions of resins such as the polymethacrylates of lower alcohols, or solutions of ethyl cellulose, in solvents such as pine oil and the monobutyl ether of ethylene glycol monoacetate. The vehicle may contain or be composed of volatile liquids to promote fast setting after application to the substrate.

The ratio of vehicle to solids in the dispersions may vary considerably and depends upon the manner in which the dispersion is to be applied and the kind of vehicle used. Normally to achieve good coverage the dispersions will contain 60-80% solids and 20-40% vehicle. The compositions of the present invention may, of course, be modified by the addition of other materials which do not affect its beneficial characteristics.

After drying to remove the vehicle, firing of the compositions of the present invention is carried out at temperatures and for times sufficient to sinter the inorganic materials and to produce conductor patterns adherent to the dielectric substrate, as discussed above.

The advance involved in the gas discharge display devices of the present invention is in the use of compositions comprising the nickel compounds of the present invention as some or all of the electrodes. The geometry of the display device is not of the essence of the present invention. Any appropriate geometry may be used in manufacturing the display device. The display device will comprise dielectric substrates having a cavity therebetween. The cavity is provided by a spacer between the substrates. The substrates and spacer are clamped or adhesively connected together. The substrates have electrodes of the present invention fired (sintered) thereon, the compositions of the present invention having been deposited (e.g., printed) thereon in the desired pattern, followed by heating to produce physically and electrically continuous conductors. The device may include printed dielectric layers, as well known in the art. The device will include means for evacuating the cavity and then filling with the appropriate excitable gas. The electrodes are, of course, operatively connected electrically with the desired electrical circuits.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are presented to illustrate the invention. In the examples and elsewhere in the specification and claims, all parts, percentages, ratios, etc., are by weight unless otherwise stated; the relationship between a and b in the formula (Ni₃ B)_(a) (Ni₃ Si)_(b) is on a molar basis and the ratio between Si and B in the nickel compounds of this invention is sometimes expressed on an atomic basis. All mesh sizes are U.S. standard sieve scale.

PREPARATION OF NICKEL COMPOUNDS

Ni₃ B (99% pure) was reduced in size to a powder having a surface area of about 3.7 m.² /g. An average particle size of 0.2 micron was calculated, assuming spherical particles, from the formula ##EQU1## where d is density in g./cc. The powder was washed at room temperature with a 1/3 (by volume) solution of concentrated aqueous HC1 and water.

Ni₃ Si was prepared from the elements by arc melting under argon followed by annealing in vacuum at 950° C. It was reduced in size to minus 400 mesh.

Solid solutions of the formula Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) were prepared by mixing the elements in the desired proportions, then arc melting the mixture under dry argon on a watercooled copper hearth. A thoriated tungsten electrode was used.

In addition to such solid solutions, wherein x does not exceed 0.10, also prepared by the same arc melting technique were mixtures of Ni₃ Si and Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) (it was observed that such mixtures are miscible in the liquid state). After solidification the mixtures were pulverized and screened to minus 400 mesh.

PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMENS

The nickel compound powders prepared as described above were dispersed with various finely divided (minus 400 mesh) glass powders in a vehicle of 9 parts terpineol and 1 part ethyl cellulose. The dispersions were printed through a patterned 200-mesh screen on a substrate (either dense, 96% alumina or soda lime glass) as a 200 square serpentine pattern. The prints were dried at 100° C. for 10 minutes to a dried thickness of about 20-25 microns, and then fired in air in a muffle furnace or in a tube furnace within a quartz tube under various atmospheres, at the respective temperatures indicated below, fired film thickness was about 15 microns.

Resistivity (in ohms/square) was determined on Simpson Electric Co. Model 460 Direct Volt/Ohmmeter on fired films.

EXAMPLES 1-10

Ni₃ B/glass mixtures were found to produce useful conductors upon being fired in air on soda lime glass substrates. In these examples mixtures of Ni₃ B and a glass (68.6% Pb0, 10.5% B₂ O₃, 1.8% ZnO, 0.6% BaO, 0.5% CaO, 5.2% CdO, 12.8% SiO₂) were dispersed in the vehicle, printed on soda lime glass substrates, dried and fired in air as follows: 350° C. for 10 minutes and plunged into a preheated muffle furnace at a peak temperature in the range 570°-600° C. for 10 minutes. Table I sets forth proportions of materials, peak firing temperature, and resistivity of the fired samples. Adhesion of each fired sample to the substrate was good as examined by scratching the fired films with a sharp point.

The fired film of Example 1 was found by X-ray analysis to comprise nickel metal (Norelco diffractometer, monochromatic copper K alpha radiation). The fired films of Examples 2-6 were observed to be magnetic, indicating the presence of nickel metal (no X-ray or magnetic observations were made on the films of Examples 7-10).

EXAMPLES 11-20 AND SHOWING A

In contrast with Examples 1-10 wherein soda lime glass substrates were used (and hence low firing temperatures had to be employed due to the low softening point of such substrates), in Examples 11-20 an alumina substrate was used. Hence, higher firing temperatures could be employed. In Showing A, infinite resistivity was obtained at a Ni₃ B/Ni₃ Si ratio higher than that of the present invention.

In Examples 11-18 Ni₃ B/glass mixtures were used; in Examples 19-20 and Showing A mixtures of Ni₃ Si, glass, and solid solutions of the formula Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) were employed. The glass in each example contained 65% PbO, 34% SiO₂, and 1% A1₂ O₃. Useful conductors were produced in each example by firing in air.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________             Ni.sub.3 B                                                                         Glass                                                                              Vehicle                                                                             Firing Temp.                                                                           Resistivity                                       Example No.                                                                            (g.)                                                                               (g.)                                                                               (g.) (° C.)                                                                          (ohms/square)                                     __________________________________________________________________________     1       1.88                                                                               0.12                                                                               0.60 570     0.054                                             2       1.84                                                                               0.16                                                                               0.65 570     0.157                                             3       1.84                                                                               0.16                                                                               "    585     0.045                                             4       1.84                                                                               0.16                                                                               "    600     0.043                                             5       1.80                                                                               0.20                                                                               "    585     0.038                                             6       1.76                                                                               0.24                                                                               "    585     0.038                                             7       1.70                                                                               0.30                                                                               "    585     0.038                                             8       1.60                                                                               0.40                                                                               "    585     0.047                                             9       1.0 1.0 "    570     0.217                                             10      0.8 1.20                                                                               "    570     0.680                                             __________________________________________________________________________

The compositions set forth in Table II were printed on the alumina substrates, dried, and fired at 350° C. for 10 minutes and then plunged into a muffle furnace at 850° C. and held there for at least 10 minutes, as specified in Table II. The resistivity of the resultant films is set forth in Table II. Nickel metal was found by X-ray diffraction to be in the fired films of Examples 11-14 (determinations were not made on the films of Examples 15-20). The adhesion of the films was examined by scratching the fired films with a sharp point and found to be excellent for Examples 11 and 12 and good for Examples 19 and 20; adhesion was not determined on the remaining examples. It was observed that the fired films of Examples 11-20 could be refired in air for longer periods of time (e.g., 20 minutes at 850° C.) without a significant change in sheet resistivity or oxidation of nickel metal to NiO as evidenced by X-ray diffraction patterns.

EXAMPLES 21, 22, AND SHOWING B

Physical mixtures (not solid solutions) of Ni₃ B particles, Ni₃ Si particles, and glass particles were dispersed in a vehicle, printed on alumina substrates and fired in air using the glass and firing schedule of Example 11 (including 10 minutes at 850° C. peak). Compositions and resultant resistivities are set forth in Table III. Showing B employed an amount of Ni₃ Si in excess of that of the present invention and produced a useless device.

EXAMPLES 23 and 24

A Ni₃ B/glass composition was fired in various non-oxidizing atmospheres at 850° C. on an alumina substrate to produce useful conductors.

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________                 Ni.sub.3 B/Ni.sub.3 Si                                                                              Time at                                               Ni.sub.3 B                                                                             (Molar Ratio                                                                           Glass                                                                              Vehicle                                                                             850° C.                                                                       Resistivity                             Example No.                                                                            (g.)                                                                               (g.)                                                                               Ni.sub.3 B/Ni.sub.3 Si)                                                                (g.)                                                                               (g.) (min.)                                                                               (ohms/sq.)                              __________________________________________________________________________     11      1.96                                                                               --  --      0.04                                                                               0.60 10    0.016                                   12      "   --  --      "   "    20    0.016                                   13      "   --  --      "   "    30    nd*                                     14      "   --  --      "   "    45    nd                                      15      1.92                                                                               --  --      0.08                                                                               "    10    0.016                                   16      1.86                                                                               --  --      0.12                                                                               "    "     0.018                                   17      1.84                                                                               --  --      0.16                                                                               "    "     0.017                                   18      1.20                                                                               --  --      0.80                                                                               0.65 "     0.150                                   19      --  1.80                                                                               1/1     0.20                                                                               0.60 "     0.182                                   20      --  1.80                                                                               3/1     0.20                                                                               "    "     0.055                                   Showing A                                                                              --  1.80                                                                               1/3     0.20                                                                               "    "     ∞                                 __________________________________________________________________________      *"nd" means not determined.                                              

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________             Ni.sub.3 B                                                                         Ni.sub.3 Si                                                                         Molar Ratio                                                                            Glass                                                                              Vehicle                                                                             Resistivity                                  Example No.                                                                            (g.)                                                                               (g.) Ni.sub.3 B/Ni.sub.3 Si                                                                 (g.)                                                                               (g.) (ohms/sq.)                                   __________________________________________________________________________     21      0.7 0.7  1/0.9   0.1 0.5  0.068                                        22      0.48                                                                               0.92 1/1.8   0.1 0.5  0.635                                        (Showing B)                                                                            0.35                                                                               1.05 1/2.5   0.1 0.5  ∞                                      __________________________________________________________________________

The composition contained 1.46 g. Ni₃ B, 0.41 g. vehicle (14:1 terpineol to ethyl cellulose here, unlike other experiments), and 0.12 g. glass (38% SiO₂, 4% TiO₂, 18% BaO, 7% A1₂ O₃, 8% ZnO, 5% MgO, 15% B₂ O₃, 5% CaO). It was printed on 96% alumina and dried at 100° C. as above. The alumina chips bearing the dried print each placed in a quartz tube, which was then evacuated.

In Example 23 the tube was flushed with a 3/1 (by volume) mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen and fired at 850° C. for 10 minutes in the gas mixture by plunging into a preheated 850° C. oven. Fired film adhesion was excellent. The resistivity of the resultant film was excellent, 0.047 ohm/square.

In Example 24 the tube was flushed with pure nitrogen and fired as in Example 23. The adhesion was excellent. The resistivity was 0.048 ohms/square.

X-ray diffraction of the fired films of both Examples 23 and 24 showed the presence of Ni₃ B and a trace of nickel metal.

The fired film of Example 24 was refired (850° C., 10 minutes) in the atmosphere of Example 23 (3/1 by volume hydrogen/nitrogen) and yielded a resistivity of 0.038 ohm/square.

EXAMPLES 25-27

Dispersions of Ni metal powder and Ni₃ B powder (plus the glass of Example 1) were printed and fired on soda lime glass substrates as in Example 1. Resistivities were excellent (see Table IV).

EXAMPLE 28

Compositions of the present invention were used to make end terminations for resistors.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                                   Ni.sub.3 B                                                                             Ni     Glass Vehicle                                                                               Resistivity                              Example No.                                                                              (g.)    (g.)   (g.)  (g.)   (ohm/sq.)                                ______________________________________                                         25        0.28    1.12   0.16  0.44   0.125                                    26        0.42    0.98   0.16  0.44   0.050                                    27        0.56    0.84   0.16  0.44   0.063                                    ______________________________________                                    

A glass rod about 2 mm in diameter and 7 mm long was coated with tin oxide. Each end of the rod was dipped into a dilute dispersion of Ni₃ B and glass particles (9 parts Ni₃ B and 1 part of the glass of Example 1) and fired in air at 550° C. for 10 minutes to produce a resistor having nickel-based terminations.

EXAMPLE 29

A simple gas discharge display device was prepared on a soda lime glass substrate using a composition of the present invention to form some electrodes. On a soda lime glass substrate there was printed a 20-mil wide electrode, in the desired configuration, using a dispersion of 74 parts Ni₃ B powder, 6 parts of glass powder of Example 1, and 20 parts vehicle. The print was dried, and fired at 350° C. for 10 minutes and at 575° C. for 10 minutes, each in a preheated oven. Between this substrate and another glass substrate bearing Pd/Ag electrodes was clamped an alumina spacer. The cavity between the electroded substrates was evacuated, then filled with argon. Voltage (held at about 260 V) was applied to excite the gas, causing it to glow. Complex display devices can be made in this manner. 

I claim:
 1. A dielectric substrate having adherent thereto a sintered composition of finely divided inorganic powder comprising one or more nickel compounds having an overall approximate composition of

    (Ni.sub.3 B).sub.a (Ni.sub.3 Si).sub.b

wherein the sum of a plus b is one, a is in the range 1/3 to 1, and b is in the range 0 to 2/3.
 2. A dielectric substrate according to claim 1 having adherent thereto a sintered composition wherein the nickel compound is Ni₃ B.
 3. A dielectric substrate according to claim 1 having adherent thereto a sintered composition wherein the nickel compounds comprise a mixture of Ni₃ B and Ni₃ Si wherein there are up to 2 moles of Ni₃ Si per mole of Ni₃ B.
 4. A dielectric substrate according to claim 1 having adherent thereto a sintered composition wherein the nickel compound is a solid solution of the approximate formula Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) wherein x is in the approximate range 0.01-0.1.
 5. A dielectric substrate according to claim 4 having adherent thereto a sintered composition of a mixture of Ni₃ B said Ni₃ B₁ _(-x) Si_(x) wherein the total amount of Si present in said nickel compounds is no more than two times the amount of B present therein, on an atomic basis.
 6. In a gas discharge display device comprising two dielectric substrates having conductor patterns printed thereon in operative fashion, said substrates being separated from one another with a dielectric spacer which defines a cavity between said substrates, said cavity having therein an ionizable light-producing gas, the improvement wherein the electrodes are a fired composition of finely divided inorganic powder comprising one or more nickel compounds having an overall approximate composition of

    (Ni.sub.3 B).sub.a (Ni.sub.3 Si).sub.b

wherein the sum of a plus b is one, a is in the range 1/3 to 1, and b is in the range 0 to 2/3.
 7. In a display device according to claim 6 wherein the dielectric substrates are glass. 